Click here for our Daily E-Clips policy.

Wednesday, November 27

In WA state Legislature, Democrats and Republicans are sticking with their leaders
House Speaker Laurie Jinkins and Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary will lead their respective caucuses in the Washington state House of Representatives in the 2025 legislative session. Democrats reelected Jinkins, a Tacoma representative, who will mark her sixth session as speaker once she is formally confirmed by the House on Jan. 13. She’ll lead a caucus that gained a member in the November election, giving it a 59-seat majority in the 98-person House. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (LSS)

Gov. Inslee addresses efforts to assess damage after devastating ‘bomb cyclone’
One week after Tuesday’s ‘Bomb Cyclone’ exploded across the region, knocking out power and bringing down massive trees, damaging homes and businesses, hundreds if not thousands are still assessing the damages. On Tuesday, the Governor’s office said in a statement that Washington officials will be working with local governments to assess damages and determine whether the damage to public or private property meets the thresholds for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Continue reading at KOMO. (PSE)

Class of 2025: Meet Washington state’s newest lawmakers
The new year is coming, and with it a new cohort of Washington state lawmakers preparing for their first legislative session, which begins Jan. 13. This year’s freshman class includes more than a dozen legislators joining state government in what has been predicted by some to be a “tough” session as the state braces for a $10 billion to $12 billion shortfall over the next four years. They will also be tackling numerous other issues Washingtonians are facing, like housing affordability, increased child care costs, floundering K-12 budgets, public safety and an increase in the general cost of living. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Amanda Snyder)

Print

Axios
Washington state had the smallest rightward shift in 2024
Washington’s outdoor recreation industry is worth $22.5 billion

Capital Press
Trump’s plan to hit Mexico, Canada with tariffs draws concern

Everett Herald
Mukilteo council passes budget with deficit, hopes for new revenue
Snohomish County exec issues disaster proclamation for bomb cyclone
Comment (WaPo): Has Nancy Mace ever been in a women’s restroom

News Tribune
Opioid addiction remains high in Pierce County. Will a new $1.6M mobile program help?
Opinion: Trump’s agenda for higher education: Axing loan forgiveness, tax cuts and more

New York Times
As Congress Feuds Over Farm Bill, Growers Are ‘Stuck in Limbo’
Inside the Plastic Industry’s Battle to Win Over Hearts and Minds

Port Townsend Leader
Growth plan up for debate

Puget Sound Business Journal
What record holiday spending could mean for retail real estate
School construction bond measures lose support across Washington

Seattle Times
WA public employee union sues state after contract vote fails
Laid-off Boeing workers worry for themselves, and the company that cut them

Skagit Valley Herald
Results from Nov. 5 election certified

Spokesman Review
WA public employee union sues state following failed contract vote
Spokane seeks study on infrastructure needs for anticipated growth in Latah Valley – and how to pay for it
‘Community organizing means showing up’: Lawyer who fought for DACA in the Supreme Court urges undocumented immigrants to prepare for a future without it

Washington Post
Musk admits X throttles links as ‘news influencers’ take over
Americans are not getting seasonal vaccines ahead of the holidays
Trump fills Cabinet with loyalists, competing ideologies and government skeptics
Some call it gambling. They call it social gaming. Either way, some players are losing big money.

WA State Standard
A WA state Senate race heads to recount as counties certify results
In WA state Legislature, Democrats and Republicans are sticking with their leaders (Jinkins, Fitzgibbon, Ortiz-Self, Stonier, Stearns, Orwall)
Trump vow to impose stiff tariffs at odds with anti-inflation campaign message, Dems say

Wenatchee World
‘Definitely a concern’: How will Amazon impact local businesses?
How a small Washington town became a hub for Palestinian solidarity

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle schools superintendent withdrawing school closure recommendation
Power restoration efforts continue one week after bomb cyclone hits western Washington
Data breaches surge to record levels in Washington state, attorney general calls for policy changes
Redmond police celebrating ‘monumental’ decision by FAA that approves drone use on more 911 calls

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Move Over: 6 WSP vehicles hit in 5 days
Data breaches reach all-time high in Washington
Redmond police can now pilot drones without visual observer
Seattle Public Schools determines future after scrapping school closures plan
Black-colored plastic products may contain toxic chemicals, harm your health
Budget cuts eminent: Seattle Public Schools looks to renew levies, get more money from the state

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Gov. Inslee addresses efforts to assess damage after devastating ‘bomb cyclone’
Snohomish City Council approves 4% property tax hike despite public opposition
Seattle budget includes historic investment in affordable housing and public safety
King County Metro testing cameras on buses to monitor lane violations on busy routes
Capitol Hill business owners hopeful for new public safety investments in Seattle budget

KUOW Public Radio
To address overcrowding, WA plans new juvenile corrections facility at a state prison
Western Washington windstorm victims may qualify for disaster and tax relief. Here’s what to know
‘Sometimes you only get one shot.’ Restoring salmon habitat and rejuvenating a South Seattle beach

KXLY (ABC)
Statewide budget cuts threaten WA’s early childhood education programs
Neighborhood residents express concerns over potential changes to zoning regulations

Web

Crosscut
Washington House selects leadership for 2025 session (Jinkins, Fitzgibbon, Stearns, Ortiz-Self, Stonier, Ramel)
Class of 2025: Meet Washington state’s newest lawmakers
Beyond turkey: How people of color in WA make Thanksgiving their own

The Urbanist
Four successful Urbanist-backed candidates pledge housing, transit, and climate action (Bateman)
Opinion: Cities must embrace housing abundance to resist rise of authoritarianism

West Seattle Blog
Surprise second wave of salmon spawners breaks Fauntleroy Creek record

Tuesday, November 26

Gov. Inslee unveils plan to add a juvenile facility amid ‘avalanche’ of new offenders
Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday announced plans to open another juvenile rehabilitation facility in Washington — a proposal that he cast as necessary amid an “avalanche” of new offenders. Inslee shared the proposal during a news conference at the Green Hill School in Chehalis. Since last year, Green Hill has experienced a 60% spike in its youth population. The outgoing governor joined leaders from the Department of Children, Youth and Families in discussing the proposal that they’ll send to lawmakers early next year. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Steve Bloom)

Cities cut red tape to turn unused office buildings into housing
Nearly a fifth of office space across the country sits empty, a record high vacancy rate that’s expected to keep growing. Seeking both to boost their economies and ease their housing shortages, cities are taking steps to encourage the conversion of unused office space into much-needed housing. They include reductions in approval times, exemptions from affordable housing rules and changes in building code requirements. Some cities and states also are providing tax incentives or subsidies to developers. Regulatory hurdles — such as outdated building codes, minimum unit sizes and natural light requirements — push up costs. Cities are trying a variety of ways to overcome these obstacles. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Justin Sullivan)

The Washington state Legislature is more diverse than ever
Washington’s Legislature, like that of other states, has been growing more diverse in terms of age, gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. In 2020, the state for the first time had five Black women serving in the House simultaneously. Washington’s Democratic legislators have caucuses for members of color, LGBTQ+, and Black and Latino lawmakers. The Members of Color Caucus has grown over the years, with 26 members for the 2023-24 year. In the Senate, there were 10 people in the Members of Color Caucus for the same year. Republicans do not have similar groups for their members, though there are several Republican legislators of color, including Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, and state Reps. Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, and the newly elected Gloria Mendoza of Grandview. Continue reading at Crosscut. (M. Scott Brauer)

Print

Axios
Washington windstorm among the worst in 60 years
Washington’s rate of sexually transmitted infections trails U.S. average

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County approves two-year budget with property tax hike, use of ‘banked’ funds
The Lummi Youth Canoe Family disbanded in 2019. Now two brothers plan to bring it back
Port of Bellingham announces 2025 plans, including waterfront projects and adding airlines

Capital Press
Kentucky judge strikes down Biden H-2A union rule

Everett Herald
99% of Snohomish PUD customers have power back
Council votes to approve Snohomish County budget with 4% tax increase (Pederson)

International Examiner
Stabbing attacks target CID unhoused community, leave neighbors feeling unsafe

News Tribune
MultiCare settles claims over patients’ civil rights, sets aside $2M for compensation
A Pierce County deputy was ‘justified’ using lethal force. County will pay $4.5M anyway
Opinion: Remember when you didn’t need an air conditioner in Tacoma? Climate is changing us

New York Times
Trump’s Tariffs Would Deal a Big Blow to the Auto Industry
Trump Transition Live Updates: Trump’s Tariffs and Mexico’s Tit-for-Tat Could Upend Trade and Industries

Olympian
Gov. Inslee unveils plan to add a juvenile facility amid ‘avalanche’ of new offenders (Senn, Wilson)

Peninsula Daily News
Housing identified as a top priority

Puget Sound Business Journal
King County officials take action in wake of windstorm
Tax relief available for some properties hit by bomb cyclone
Amazon report details impacts of its affordable housing spending
Seattle Mayor Harrell wants to see a Pike Place with less car traffic
DOJ fires warning shot ahead of landmark Realtors settlement over commissions

Seattle Times
Working the deadliest job in America
Are King County’s homeless shelters full?
Trial begins in lawsuit alleging racism at Seattle Children’s hospital
WA veteran imprisoned for being gay among just 8 seeking Biden pardon

Spokesman Review
Getting There: Spokane County prepared for winter maintenance on largest county road system in the state
Insurance paid more than $212 million for Gray, Oregon Road fires, but commissioner says most weren’t made whole

Tri-City Herald
Decision to install 1.3 million solar panels on Benton County farm now in Inslee’s hands

Washington Post
Mexico vows to retaliate if Trump imposes tariffs
Rural students’ options shrink as colleges slash majors
Millions from tax refunds go to pay hidden fees, report finds
These batteries could harness the wind and sun to replace coal and gas
Medicare proposes covering weight-loss drugs, teeing up clash with RFK Jr.

WA State Standard
Cities cut red tape to turn unused office buildings into housing
WA public employee union sues state following failed contract vote
Inslee unveils plan for new juvenile detention center on grounds of Aberdeen prison
Feds consider additional Columbia River environmental guidelines amid political uncertainty

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Thousands still without power on Eastside Monday
Pierce Transit installs new accessible signage as part of pilot project
Oak Harbor pastor seeking $500K to launch domestic violence center
Inslee proposes moving juvenile offenders to former adult prison unit (Wilson)
‘It’s long overdue’: Experts call for statewide scrutiny of local jails amid inmate deaths, suffering
Whatcom County couple unharmed after massive tree crushes their home during bomb cyclone

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle Public Schools backs off school closure plans
Downed transmission lines led to prolonged PSE power outages
Inslee proposes new juvenile rehabilitation facility in Washington (Senn)
Pierce County breaks ground on controversial new homeless village
Starbucks faces scheduling and payroll challenges after ransomware attack
Biden proposes Medicare and Medicaid cover costly weight-loss drugs for millions of obese Americans

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Thanksgiving travel expected to break records amid FAA staffing issues
Starbucks hit by ransomware, disrupting barista pay and scheduling system
$3.38M in grants awarded for state’s shoreline conservation, salmon habitat
SPS superintendent to withdraw school closure plan amid community division
Target Zero plan revamped: new measures to curb speeding, impaired driving in Washington

KUOW Public Radio
How to prepare for the Seattle area’s next big storm
‘Most, if not all’ customers will have power back by Tuesday, PSE says
Long Covid patients push to see federal research refocused on treatments
Seattle Public Schools drops contentious closure plan following months of waffling amid backlash

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane leads state in food waste: Here’s how to cut down this holiday season

Web

Crosscut
The Washington state Legislature is more diverse than ever (Cortes, Farivar, Berg, Lovick, Donaghy, Santos, Randall)
Amazon offers $334M for nuclear reactors to be built at Hanford

MyNorthwest
Inslee proposes new juvenile rehabilitation facility in Washington (Senn)
Post-storm services added as King County Executive praises workers
Amazon workers concerned over leadership and environmental impact
65,000 rainbow trout added to 24 WA lakes ahead of Black Friday fishing
Redmond Police becomes first department in WA to pilot drones without visual observer

The Urbanist
Roger Millar’s departure leaves big shoes to fill at WSDOT

Washington Observer
The Re-Wire Housing Panel, Year 3 (Alvarado)

Monday, November 25

From the ER to your house: Why hospitals are treating patients at home
The hospital-at-home movement has proliferated during the past decade, reshaping how acute care is delivered and health systems are financed. The federal government in 2020 eased regulations on home hospital programs to keep people out of facilities overwhelmed by covid cases. Now, health-care leaders are lobbying Congress for a five-year extension, a decision that could cement the rise of home hospital services — or make them a pandemic relic. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Kieran Kesner)

State panel will begin review of building codes targeted by gas initiative
The state Building Code Council set out on a path Friday to ensure energy rules for new construction comply with provisions in the natural gas initiative Washington voters approved this month. Initiative 2066 takes aim at the state’s combination of regulations and laws to move swiftly away from natural gas toward technology like electric heat pumps. It was passing with 51.7% of the statewide vote on Friday. It would undo changes to the energy code approved by the state Building Code Council that went into effect in March. It also would repeal provisions in a state law, House Bill 1589, intended to accelerate Puget Sound Energy’s transition away from natural gas. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Bill Oxford)

Climate pollution surges in Washington state after pandemic lull
Though up-to-date information is hard to come by, energy use and climate-altering pollution appear to be on the rise again in Washington state. After sharply dropping 14% in 2020 with the reduced commuting and economic activity of the Covid-19 pandemic, the state’s carbon dioxide emissions have bounced back 7% since then, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The newly available data shows that impacts of the pandemic enabled Washington state to comply with its 2008 law mandating carbon dioxide emissions drop to 1990 levels by 2020. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

Print

Associated Press
New study shows voting for Native Americans is harder than ever

Aberdeen Daily World
Washington Farm Bureau honors Sen. Van De Wege
GOP Chair Walsh claims state turned ‘redder’ in General Election

Axios
What happened to the “Astra” tree
Seattle taps JumpStart tax to fill budget shortfall

Capital Press
Swinomish tribe seeks say in Skagit tide gate dispute

Everett Herald
Somers defends Snohomish County property tax hike amid criticism
Skykomish River project aims to create salmon habitat, reduce flooding
Thousands still without power in Snohomish County after bomb cyclone
Editorial: What saved climate act? Good sense and a Science Guy
Opinion: Lawmakers, wealthy should consider I-2109’s rejection

News Tribune
Plucking polluted pilings: 1,200 are being removed along Tacoma’s Ruston Way
Here’s who will be the next Gig Harbor mayor following Tracie Markley’s resignation
Man killed following high-speed pursuit in Spanaway. Driver hospitalized and in custody
Controversial homeless village breaks ground in Pierce County as picketers march nearby

Peninsula Daily News
Legislature to decide fate of miscalculation

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle’s new budget includes more funding for safety, housing
National company acquires Bellevue firm that specializes in data centers
Cornish College of the Arts sells Kerry Hall, its last building on Capitol Hill
Amazon pours another $4 billion into Anthropic, ramping up AI competition with Microsoft

Seattle Times
Seattle police accountability director resigns amid criticism
Seattle-area return-to-office mandates strain household budgets
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez wants to look at changing how we conduct elections

Spokesman Review
Medicare Advantage enrollees face declining coverage
Gov.-elect Ferguson names policy veteran as his budget director
Marcus Riccelli named to leadership post before first day in Senate (Riccelli, Randall, Pedersen)
Bird flu is racing through farms, but Northwest states are rarely testing workers
Idaho potato companies have been mashing consumers with price collusion, anti-trust suit alleges
Conservationist make last ditch effort to stop 1,000 homes being built on undeveloped Spokane woodland

Washington Post
‘A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’: The world’s fight to curb plastic waste
Climate talks reach finance deal blasted as inadequate by developing nations
Since the election, some disappointed in the results are tuning out the news entirely
Patients receiving at-home medical care may be forced back to hospitals with waiver expiring

WA State Standard
State panel will begin review of building codes targeted by gas initiative (Ramel)
Care providers for developmentally disabled people ask Legislature for more pay
WA agency seeks funding for new juvenile detention center as overcrowding persists

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Expect heavy traffic, increased patrols in Washington as holiday travel ramps up
Power restored to majority of Puget Sound Energy customers days after bomb cyclone
Enumclaw man describes ‘nightmare’ of stolen generator used to power ailing mother’s oxygen machine

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
PSE restored 97% of customers power, thousands still in the dark
Suspect driver hospitalized after police chase leaves his passenger dead
Seattle deputy mayor: New SPD chief to be appointed before 2024 ends
Boeing awarded contract, tapped to build additional tankers for the Air Force
Dangerous roads: WSP patrol vehicles struck on three separate occasions in four hours

KNKX Public Radio
‘A perfect storm’: Inside Washington’s massive budget gap

KUOW Public Radio
Climate pollution surges in Washington state after pandemic lull
In Trump-leaning Yakima County, Latino voters express mixed feelings
Bird flu continues to spread in Washington state. What to know about the virus

KXLY (ABC)
‘Crucial steps’; Spokane group receives domestic violence prevention grant
Wet weather leads to parts of Spokane’s largest stormwater system to wash away

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Plan to kill thousands of barred owls raises question about removing one species to save another

MyNorthwest
Pierce County breaks ground on controversial new homeless village
One dead, two injured after police chase turned fatal on SR 7 in Spanaway
MultiCare Health Systems will overhaul procedures following investigation

The Urbanist
A First Look at Seattle Center Monorail Station’s Planned Access Upgrades

Washington Observer
Senate Democrats claim bigger share of Ways & Means (Van De Wege, Mullet, Pedersen, Bateman, Saldana, Frame, Keiser)

West Seattle Blog
DEVELOPMENT: How should Seattle’s Design Review program – once the main venue for public comment on projects – change?

Friday, November 22

WA Senate Democrats choose new committee chairs ahead of 2025 session
A half-dozen state Senate committees will have new chairpersons heading into the 2025 session, with Democrats releasing the lineup on Thursday. The caucus also outlined who will hold other leadership positions and unveiled a change to the structure of the budget-writing Ways & Means Committee. The caucus is getting some new faces in its leadership as well. Here’s a look at other leadership changes hitting the caucus this year… Continue reading at the Washington State Standard. (Bill Lucia)

Seattle park’s record chum salmon run points to good conditions for sea life
Chum salmon appear to be having a boom year in the northwest. Numerous runs from Puget Sound to the Columbia River have seen near-record returns already, more than a week before the season usually peaks. At Carkeek Park in North Seattle, a chum salmon run on Pipers Creek that was revived in the 1980s is a case in point. A community group started the efforts in the watershed and got help from the Suquamish Tribe, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Seattle Public Utilities. Continue reading at KNKX. (Bellamy Pailthrop)

Trans health care under Trump may follow the abortion playbook and its Hyde amendment
Ringing in voters’ ears in the final weeks of the presidential campaign was the tagline: “Kamala is for they/them. Trump is for you.” With the success of that part of its closing argument, the new Trump administration is likely to turn to policy affecting transgender people early in its tenure. The issue is mentioned twice in President-elect Donald Trump’s 20-point “Agenda 47” platform: #16 Cut funding to schools that teach “radical gender ideology”; and #17 “Keep men out of women’s sports.” There are also plans to curb access to gender transition by limiting insurance coverage. To do this, Republicans could take a page from the anti-abortion rights playbook. Continue reading at KUOW. (AP)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Washington Farm Bureau honors Sen. Van De Wege

Axios
In photos: Atmospheric river-fueled storm lashes U.S. West Coast

Everett Herald
Is Lynnwood council VP allowed to also serve on PUD board? Probably. (Fosse, Peterson)
Local lawmakers urge changes to proposed federal hydrogen energy rules
Comment: To fix schools, Trump will need Education Department

News Tribune
‘People are going to die.’ Why Tacoma firefighters are upset over city’s proposed budget

New York Times
Blue States Worry That Blocking Trump Will Be Tougher This Time
Far From the Climate Talks: The Human Cost of Global Warming in 2024

Puget Sound Business Journal
The National Observer: Real Estate: Builders watching Trump’s tariff plans

Seattle Times
Seattle capital gains tax proposal falls short again
Washington state’s early learning programs could face budget cuts
Editorial: As evictions loom, tribal program appears to be another broken promise

Skagit Valley Herald
State concludes latest audits of Skagit Transit; no material weaknesses found

Spokesman Review
Federal agencies consider additional Columbia River environmental guidelines amid political uncertainty

Washington Post
FAFSA is officially out, and everyone is cautiously optimistic
RFK Jr. weighs major changes to how Medicare pays physicians
Plastic food packaging has become composters’ greatest challenge
Labor unions prepare for battle against Trump’s federal workforce plans
The first transgender member of Congress, a bathroom ban and much angst
‘Dancing in the street’: Some Wall Street banks are triumphant heading into Trump era

WA State Standard
Ferguson names policy veteran as his budget director
WA Senate Democrats choose new committee chairs ahead of 2025 session (Cortes, Pedersen, Frame, Stanford, Trudeau, Lovelett, Dhingra, Riccelli, Conway, Bateman, Kuderer, Kauffman, Saldana, Salomon, Shewmake, Valdez, Cleveland)
Three WA Senate Democrats are leaving their jobs. Here’s what happens next (Keiser, Kuderer, Randall, Orwall, Gregerson, Walen, Slatter)
Congressional lawmakers hear testimony on missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Everett employs former addicts to bring others to treatment
Audit says Employment Security Department violated state law
How a new storm could hinder efforts to restore power with thousands still in the dark
Some Mercer Island residents under shelter-in-place order due to hazardous road conditions
Power being restored to some, PSE expects all customers to be out of the dark by Saturday afternoon

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
“We know you are frustrated.” PSE issues outage update to customers
Seattle City Council passes $8.3B budget to fill multi-million dollar gap
PinPoint Alert Day: Heavy rain, gusty wind as second strong storm passes through Puget Sound

KNKX Public Radio
OPALCO’s Tidal Energy Pilot Project facing early headwinds
It’s the divisions that bring some together in a county in Washington state
Seattle park’s record chum salmon run points to good conditions for sea life

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle recycling faces ‘unprecedented challenges’ as bottle maker closes
How to find warmth, electricity, and other storm resources in the Seattle area
Trans health care under Trump may follow the abortion playbook and its Hyde amendment

KXLY (ABC)
Smooth start to 2025-26 FAFSA application process
Proposal seeks to eliminate DEI efforts and offices at Idaho colleges
Spokane couple escapes crisis in Haiti after flight ban caused by gang violence
Protestors seek transparency on Gonzaga investments related to Israel-Palestine conflict

Web

Cascadia Daily News
BP halts green hydrogen plant project at Cherry Point
New housing push introduced by city to address critical shortage
Opinion: How did state, Whatcom Democrats win big in a US election swinging the other way?

Crosscut
Seattle will loosen restrictions on spending its big-business tax
New round of strong winds expected in Puget Sound region Friday

The Urbanist
State Senate taps Bateman for Housing Chair in major committee shakeup

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: Seattle Public Schools superintendent officially cancels closure meetings
CITY BUDGET APPROVED: From turns to turf, here’s how our area’s Councilmember Rob Saka changed it

Thursday, November 21

Expecting challenges, blue states vow to create ‘firewall’ of abortion protections
Officials in blue states are vowing to build a “firewall” of reproductive health protections as they anticipate federal and state attacks on abortion access under the Trump administration. A number of states have passed “shield laws” designed to minimize the legal risks for people who provide or access abortions. But just eight states — California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington — protect abortion providers from legal action regardless of where their patient is located. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (John Moore)

Washington state increases Veteran-Owned Business spending by 152% in 2024
The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs is celebrating a 152% increase in spending with Veterans-Owned Businesses (VBOs) in this fiscal year. The increase represents a $27.5 million increase over the past three-year average and a result of Executive Order 22-01, which promotes equity in public contracting. This achievement can be attributed to the WDVA for their collaborative work with state agencies to increase contracting opportunities for VOBs. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (WDVA)

The case for converting vacant offices to congregate housing
Using a “flexible co-living” model in office to residential conversion projects could significantly cut costs and open up new opportunities for creating affordable housing in downtown business districts, according to a study recently released by The Pew Charitable Trust and Gensler, a global architecture, planning, and design firm. Recently the Washington State Legislature and City of Seattle have passed legislation in favor of congregate housing. In compliance with state law, congregate housing can be permitted in all multi-family zones in the city, including low-rise zones. Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Neiman Taber Architects)